Ganna & Ben's Book

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YEEK the EMU By Ganna Omar Illustrations by Ben Hren


To Miss Debbie and the teachers and staff at ACS Doha International School who help us learn new things about ourselves everyday.

This book was inspired by the works of author Sheena Knowles and illustrator Rod Clement. ACS Doha International School Doha, Qatar February 2013

There once was an emu that lived in the zoo, with mommy and daddy, and siblings too.


His name was Yeek – oh yes it was – and he had grown tired of the old zoo’s buzz.

He wanted an adventure – some time away. If he found a good place, he might even stay.


So he crept out of bed and said with a smile, “I’m leaving this place. I’ll be gone for a while.” But just as he stepped his first foot in the city he got kicked from behind. Oh what a pity!


He soared and flipped and flew through the sky, and landed at the feet of a weary old guy.

A safe lucky landing – or so it had seemed. Yeek looked up at the man, and he beamed.

“A little emu. Well, that’s a sight. I’ll keep you maybe for a night.”


So on the way home, the man said to Yeek, “I have a nice cage, but it might need a tweek.” “You’ll be sleeping here buddy – right next to my bed.

We’ll turn in for the night just after you’re fed.”


But just as young Yeek was about to doze off, the man started to snore, and wheeze and cough.


Yeek slipped through the bars, and crept across the floor. He looked back only once, and walked out the door. “Hmph,” he said, “too bad. I can see this certainly isn’t the place for me.”


Yeek walked a short way and came to a house, and standing at the door was a girl in a blouse. Yeek jumped toward her for a look up close, and the girl stopped, and stared, and froze.

I’ll keep you and take you to school tomorrow.”

“Oh little emu, your eyes are filled with sorrow.


So the next morning, as the sun shone bright, she put Yeek in her bag and smiled with delight. At school Yeek napped and nibbled her lunch – turkey sandwich, banana, and even fruit punch.


As he peered out the top to have a look around, he fell to the floor and made a loud sound.

“An emu in school - get out of my room!�

And the teacher chased Yeek around with a broom.


Yeek raced down the hall and got out in a rush. As he stepped out the door, he said in a hush, “Hmph! Too bad - I can see this certainly isn’t the place for me.”


Yeek walked and walked and walked all day, and met an old man with something to say.

“You’re a cute little fella. I’ll take you home. And when we get there I’ll read you a poem.”


As the man began to read, his hand held Yeek tight. There was no escape, though he tried with all his might. Yeek desperately wanted to get out of there, but the man just kept reading without a care.


Finally, when the man went to bed, Yeek crept out the door and once again said, “Hmph! Too bad - I can see this certainly isn’t the place for me.”


He walked all night – head hung low in defeat. And then he saw it – Chickadee Street. He ran so fast – he practically flew – until there in front of him was the zoo.


He knew that he wanted his family now, and as he approached, they all screeched ‘ WOW!’

Yeek thought, “Hmph! Now I can see this certainly is the place for me.” There once was an emu that lived in the zoo with mommy and daddy, and siblings too.

But this little emu, with an itch to roam, had found the best place to be is at home.


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